Impacts of ultramafic outcrops in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah on soil and water quality

Abstract

This study focused on the influence of ultramafic terrains on soil and surface water environmental chemistry in Peninsular Malaysia and in the State of Sabah also in Malaysia. The sampling included 27 soils from four isolated outcrops at Cheroh, Bentong, Bukit Rokan, and Petasih from Peninsular Malaysia and sites near Ranau in Sabah. Water samples were also collected from rivers and subsurface waters interacting with the ultramafic bodies in these study sites. Physico-chemical parameters (including pH, EC, CEC) as well as the concentration of major and trace elements were measured in these soils and waters. Geochemical indices (geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, and concentration factor) were calculated. AlO and FeO had relatively high concentrations in the samples. A depletion in MgO, CaO, and NaO was observed as a result of leaching in tropical climate, and in relation to weathering and pedogenesis processes. Chromium, Ni, and Co were enriched and confirmed by the significant values obtained for Igeo, EF, and CF, which correspond to the extreme levels of contamination for Cr and high to moderate levels of contamination for Ni and Co. The concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Co in surface waters did not reflect the local geochemistry and were within the permissible ranges according to WHO and INWQS standards. Subsurface waters were strongly enriched by these elements and exceeded these standards. The association between Cr and Ni was confirmed by factor analysis. The unexpected enrichment of Cu in an isolated component can be explained by localized mineralization in Sabah.

Natural speciation of nickel at the micrometer scale in serpentine (ultramafic) topsoils using microfocused X-ray fluorescence, diffraction, and absorption

“…Although serpentine soils are high in concentrations of Cr, Ni and Co, low concentrations of these elements have been found in the surface waters of several serpentine soils; most of the Ni (> 95%) was bound in the lattice of serpentine minerals in the residual fraction of a sequential extraction procedure [ 3 ]. While surface waters may not contain elevated levels of Cr and Ni, subsurface water can become enriched with these elements and exceed international water quality standards [ 23 ].…”

Soil fertility status and land suitability evaluation for rice crops on former shrimp ponds

“…At the upper range, mafic and ultramafic parent rocks gave rise to the high Fe and Mg soil (Anda, 2012;Fu et al 2012). Excessive Fe-bearing minerals released from weathered parent material in the tropical region lead to the formation and accumulation of low activity clay in the form of cambic (Van der Ent et al 2016), kandic (Tufaila et al 2011), or oxic horizon (Tashakor et al 2018;Becquer et al 2001). Meanwhile, soil containing high Ca developed from marine calcareous material such as limestone and marl (Sağlam & Dengiz, 2015).…”

Evaluation of Ground Serpentine Rock and Ground Magnesium Limestone as Magnesium Sources for Oil Palm Nursery Seedlings

“…The water analysed from hill creeks and streams of such soils showed high Mg content of 29.10 ppm, which is almost eight times more than that of the water used for irrigation in the nursery of the present study at 3.70 ppm. Tashakor et al (2018) had also reported high Mg contents in the tributaries of ultrabasic soils, ranging from 85 to 135 ppm. The water flowing through the weathering rocks of ultrabasic igneous parent material has high Mg content and that could be another reason for high Mg in the oil palm leaf 17.…”